Selaginella - Selaginellaceae

Selaginella tenerrima A. Braun ex Kuhn

Photo: P. Ballings
Rwanda

Photo: P. Ballings
Rwanda

Photo: P. Ballings
Rwanda

Photo: P. Ballings
Rwanda

Photo: P. Ballings
Rwanda

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Stachygynandrum tenerrimum (A. Braun ex Kuhn) Carruth.

Common name

Description

Plant small, erect or subprostrate, branched from the base, 2–8 cm high, rarely taller with 2–3 main stems; stem soft, flexuous, loosely branched, rooting from axils of lower branches, outline of system ovate. Leaves dimorphic; median leaves lanceolate-elliptic in outline, margins slightly toothed, base truncate, apex gradually tapering into a fine setose point, the bristle-like point equalling the limb and often bent outwards, 1.25–1.75 x 0.25–0.4 mm; lateral leaves ovate-elliptic in outline, margins toothed, apex obtuse or rounded, base unequal, that on the acroscopic side enlarged, 1.25–1.5 x 0.75 mm. Strobilus 3–4 mm long, at the tips of branches, maturing ± simultaneously, with male sporangia only at tips; sporophylls of 2 kinds, similar to, but narrower than their respective leaves and more spiny on margins; dorsal: green, ovate-lanceolate, pointed at the apex, serrulate, keeled; ventral: broadly ovate-lanceolate, long acuminate at apex, ciliae.

Notes

This species is small (< 10 cm) without filiform runners, has dimorphic leaves, stems that are ± erect and branched from the base, margins ciliate-dentate.

Derivation

tenuis: thin, fine, very delicate, referring to the small size of this species.

Habitat

In various types of seasonally moist & shady places: bare soil on steep rocky slope in evergreen riverside forest; bed of intermittent rivulet; under boulders on bare sand on seasonally flooded river bank; vertical rocks covered with mosses.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Dem. Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan and South Sudan, Tanzania , Uganda, Zambia.

Growth form

Lithophytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Bizzarri, M.P. (1985) Selaginellaceae.Flore d' Afrique Centrale, Pages 43 - 44. (Includes a picture).
  • Fisher E. & Lobin W. (2024) Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda.Willdenowia, 53 Page 154.
  • Hedberg, I; Friis, Ib & Persson, E (2009) Lycopodiaceae to Pinaceae.Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, vol.1 Page 17. (Includes a picture).
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 149 - 150. (Includes a picture).
  • Kornas, J. (1979) Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia. Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych. Page 34.
  • Roux, J.P. (2009) Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Strelitzia 23, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Page 28.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 28.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Page 29.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 38 - 39.
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Page 25.
  • Verdcourt, B. (2005) Selaginellaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 22. (Includes a picture).
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